IT Manager: Data and Analytics

Job Description

Are you an experienced IT Manager looking for an exciting new challenge in the retail industry?

The successful candidate will lead the end-to-end data strategy, focusing on Master Data Management (MDM) and Advanced Analytics within the Google Cloud ecosystem. The primary objective is to transform raw retail data into actionable insights while ensuring rigorous governance over merchandise master data. Will be responsible for owning the Google Cloud (GCP) data ecosystem, with a specific mandate to institutionalise Master Data Management (MDM) and governance within the retail merchandise domain.

The successful candidate must be a seasoned retail IT leader with a proven track record in Merchandise MDM. They must possess expert-level knowledge of GCP, exceptional negotiation skills, and a strategic mindset.

Qualifications

A degree in Information Systems or a related discipline is essential

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 5 years of leadership experience in managing a successful team of business analysts.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience within a retail organisation in IT, with specific experience in Merchandise MDM (Hierarchy, Attributes, Lifecycle Management).
• Certifications in Data Management and Analytics would be favourable
• GCP Proficiency: Deep understanding of Google Cloud’s data suite and how to optimize costs/performance in a cloud-native environment.
• Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated experience managing annual spend across cloud and consulting contracts as well as managing the GCP query costs
• Agile Delivery: Proficiency in managing complex backlogs using tools like Jira or Azure DevOps, specifically in a multi-vendor environment.

Technical Skills

• Expertise in SQL and architectural understanding of Data Lakes vs. Data Warehouses.
• Basic Data Architecture design experience
• Hands-on experience with Looker Studio for creating high-impact executive dashboards.
• Knowledge of Data Privacy laws (e.g. POPIA) as they pertain to retail consumer data.

Leadership

• Experience managing technical teams and communicating complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Master Data Management (MDM) & Governance

• Own the Merchandise Master Data strategy and lifecycle (Product, Vendor, Price, Inventory).
• Maintain and evolve the Data Governance Framework, ensuring data quality, lineage, and security compliance.
• Translate business objectives into a multi-year data roadmap that aligns with retail growth.
• Oversee the departmental transition toward advanced analytics and AI.

Team Leadership & GCP Ecosystem Management

• Direct a multidisciplinary team including Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Analysts, and Report Writers.
• Oversee the technical stack within Google Cloud Platform (GCP), specifically:
• BigQuery: As the central data warehouse.
• Looker / Looker Studio: For executive and operational reporting.
• Predictive modelling and machine learning.
• Cloud Data Integration: Managing ETL/ELT pipelines for real-time merchandise updates.

• Vendor Management & Commercial Oversight

• Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a bridge between IT and peer business units, ensuring data initiatives are cross-functionally aligned and keeping the organisation at the forefront of emerging retail technologies.